"We need to understand other people's values and family relationships to be able to provide them with the best care."

Mental Health now has a full-time ethnic services coordinator who will serve as the division's diversity trainer.

Lisa Booker, RN, who has been with Mental Health for eight years, offi cially assumed the new position in July and is putting together a series of quarterly cultural competency and ethnic diversity trainings for staff. Lisa also is involved in incorporating the rhdi into the implementation of the Mental Health Services Act (Prop. 63), Donna said.

"As we roll out new programs from Prop. 63, we have to do it in a way that is culturally appropriate for the communities they are going into. We can't do a cookie cutter approach," Donna said.

"Lisa is charged with keeping us on track as we do the program design." Lisa said she sees Prop. 63 as an opportunity for reducing health disparities.

"Prop. 63 gives us a framework to do some innovative things especially regarding diversity issues and cultural competence," Lisa said. "The whole premise of the new law is to do whatever it takes to serve the underserved and the un-served.